News Briefs: Aug. 20, 2019

Oil companies raise fuel pump prices

MANILA, Philippines — Pump prices of fuel went up this week as prices continued to move in different directions for two months now.

Oil companies announced an increase of 60 centavos per liter of diesel and 50 centavos per liter of gasoline. These include Shell, Seaoil, PTT Philippines and Phoenix.

Shell and Seaoil raised prices of kerosene by 45 centavos per liter.

The price of Dubai crude oil dropped to $62.31 per barrel on July 18 from $64.62 per barrel on July 10.

The price of crude oil climbed back to $56.36 per barrel on Aug. 15 from $54.44 on Aug. 7 — the lowest so far this year since $53.90 Jan.2. —Ronnel W. Domingo

British, American sex offenders to be deported

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is deporting a British national wanted in the United Kingdom for pedophilia and an American sex offender wanted in New York.

According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, William James Neville Ireland, 68, was now in BI custody following his arrest in Lubao, Pampanga.

Ireland is wanted for engaging in sexual acts with a child at his home in Northern Ireland in 1996.

He was reportedly charged with seven counts of indecent assault of a female and two counts of gross indecency with a child.

Shane Edward Scism, 45, who is wanted in New York for failure to register as a sex offender, was arrested in Marikina City. New York law requires sex offenders to register any change of address, internet accounts, internet profiles and status.

Ireland arrived on Oct. 1, 2013, as a tourist. He fled the United Kingdom to evade police questioning on a complaint of sexual abuse filed against him.

Scism arrived in December 2017. —Tina G. Santos

Private ships eyed to ferry relief goods to Itbayat, Batanes

MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is looking to tap private shipping firms to help send relief goods to Itbayat town in Batanes which was hit last month by strong earthquakes.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal assured on Monday that aircraft and sea vessels remain on standby at the provincial capital Basco to send food, water and fuel to Itbayat as soon as the weather improves.

Itbayat’s disaster and risk reduction office said that food, water and fuel were running low and remaining supplies would only last a week because bad weather had prevented ships and aircraft from transporting cargo.

Timbal said most relief goods were in Basco but could not be transported due to inclement weather.

“So we are discussing, possibly asking help from private shipping firms. They might be able to help,” he said. —Jeannette I. Andrade